Steam on La Veta *PIC*

For the first time in over 50 years, the sight and sound of standard gauge steam will be seen and heard in Alamosa and over La Veta Pass this summer.
The San Luis & Rio Grande RR has just completed purchase of former Southern Pacific RR #1744. 1744 is an M-6 class 2-6-0 built by Baldwin in 1901. She wieghs in at about 88 tons and has 33200 lbs of tractive effort with 63" drivers.
1744 was retired by the SP in 1958 and displayed in Corrine UT until the early 1980's. It was returned to operation by the Wasatch Mountain RR in Heber City, UT and operated there until sold to the Ft. Worth & Western RR in Ft Worth TX in 1990. It was stored in Ft Worth until 1999 when it was sold to the Rio Grande Pacific Corp. for use on an excursion railroad in New Orleans, LA. RGPC overhauled 1744 and ran it only about 5 months before abandoning the excursion project. 1744 has been stored in Louisianna since.
It is our intent to move 1744 to Alamosa sometime in April and have it in service by opening day of the passenger season, May 26. At this time 1744 is scheduled to be operated on Saturdays and Sundays only on the regular La Veta passenger.
I know some will ask this: I figure 1744 will pull 4 coaches up the east side of the hill.
Pic is by Ken Fitzgerald taken when 1744 was overhauled in 1990.